Abbas, Kerry discuss ceasefire in Gaza

RAMALLAH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday urged U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to work jointly to ensure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Wafa official news agency reported.

Wafa reported that Abbas and Kerry discussed recent developments in Gaza by phone, where violence between Israel and Palestinian militants has claimed the lives of around 80 Palestinians.

Abbas and Kerry also agreed to keep contacts in order to contain the crisis as soon as possible, according to Wafa.

Kerry, who is in Beijing in an official visit, said de- escalating the crisis is ultimately in everyone's interests, adding that no country can accept such rocket attacks, which referring to the attack by Hamas on Israeli southern cities.

Israeli started on Tuesday a military operation dubbed " Operation Protective Edge" to curb fire rockets from Gaza over the past few days.

Despite the intensive airstrikes on military and civilian sites across the territory ruled by Islamic Hamas movement, hundreds of rockets from Gaza have rocked several southern cities in Israel.